4 Teams in Training for Youth Games in Algeria

Team Taekwondo in practice session for the African Youth Games in Algiers, Algeria

Ahead of the African Youth Games in Algiers, Algeria, four Liberian teams have encamped into intensive training to represent the country.

Those teams are Athletics, Table Tennis, Taekwodo and Cycling.

Their training, which started May, 2018, are sponsored by the Liberia National Olympic Committee (LNOC), through the Olympiad Solidarity. The air fares will also be provided, while the teams’ outfit (attires) and per diem are supposed to be given by the Government of Liberia.

Team Athletics preparing for the African Youth Games in Algiers, Algeria

Those in training for the Taekwondo are Philip S. Sarnoy and Richard B. Tellewoyan, and for the Athletics include Charles Gbelia, Sunnyboy Barcon, Princess Dunah and Jermama T. Kanwie.

Other athletes are Ernestine J. Goodridge and Jeremiah Sarkpa for Table Tennis and Kollie B. Sumo, the lone man for Cycling.

Taekwondo Coach Paul Dennis, said for the past months the athletes have been learning the tournament’s rules and undergoing physical training.

“This week, they will begin doing techniques, tactics and skills training in the gym,” Dennis said.

Team Table Tennis, preparing for the African Youth Games in Algiers, Algeria

As for the Table Tennis Coach, Y. Yonton Kerbawhen, said beginning Monday (today), the trainees will be at the headquarters on Broad Street, “because the physical training is over at the Samuel K. Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville.”

Saah Roberts, who is an official of the Cycling, said cyclist Kollie Sumo is upbeat for the tournament, while the head coach for the Liberia Athletics Federation, Samuel Cooper, expressed the hope of bringing medals back to the country.

The secretary general of the LNOC, Frederick Pratt, said the delegation is expected to depart the country Monday, July 16, for the Games, which is scheduled to be held from July 19 – 28 in Algiers, Algeria.

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